VERY RARE CHINESE ‘BAITIAN’ SOAPSTONE CARVING, QING DYNASTY Carved in shallow relief with two figures on a boat amongst trees under clouds. Weight 249.4 grams. Approx. 7cm tall x 6cm ‘Baitian’ literally translating to ‘white field’ is the white stone variety of the Shoushan soapstone.The baitian soapstone can be characterised by its mutton fat colour and faint pattern in the stone resembling that of a cut turnip or radish, which is known as ‘lobo wen’ radish pattern. Provenance: Private English collection of Sir Mark Heath KCVO CMG (1927-2005), and thence by descent.